System And Method Of Parsing A Template For Generating Presentation Data

ABSTRACT

A method performed by an information system application service is disclosed. A template is parsed to identify a set of elements that form a unique key. The set of elements includes a group name, subgroup name, and sequence element. A value is retrieved from a data store using the unique key. Presentation data is generated from the template by replacing the set of elements with the retrieved value. In an alternative embodiment, a method for updating a data store is disclosed. A messaging framework message received from a client is parsed to identify a set of elements that form a unique key and associated update value. A value is updated in the data store with the identified value using the unique key to uniquely select a particular value from the data store for updating. An information system that generates presentation data and updates a data store is also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods thatinclude information storage, retrieval, and update via a browser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Browsing conventionally includes searching, accessing, and viewinginformation stored and provided by an information system withoutnecessarily knowing of the existence or the format of the informationbeing sought. A conventional browser includes a program performed on aclient computer that is coupled via a network to one or more informationsystems acting as servers. Such a browser may have facilities to acceptinformation from a principal (e.g., a human user or other software suchas an operating system, agent, or daemon) and provide that informationfor storage on the information system. For example, a user may browseproduct advertising provided by an information system and then enter atransaction to specify a purchase order for particular products directedto a suitable information system. The browser converts messages from theserver for display to the user; and, converts selections and inputs fromthe user into messages for presentation to the server. Conventionalnetworks permit documents from the server to be provided in a markuplanguage. Messages in a conventional network conform to a transportprotocol. For example, when clients and servers are coupled to theInternet or World Wide Web, messages to the client include documents inHypertext Markup Language (HTML); and, messages between the client andthe server conform to HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP).

An HTML document for a particular transaction may include softwarefacilitating transfer of information to the server according to a POSTcommand of HTTP. Generally, the POST command is customized for each datatransfer operation due in part to particulars of the data storagemechanism designed for this transaction and hosted by the server.Consider, for example, a web page that provides a book order form. Theform may include a list of titles and prices offered for sale usingelements specific to the server, such as, BookTitle and BookPrice. Themechanism engaged to submit the order generally constructs a POSTcommand reciting elements that are specific to the server, such as,BookTitle and QuantityRequested. The process at the server that acceptsthe order must recognize the elements provided in the POST command, suchas, BookTitle=Gardening and QuantityRequested=2.

What is needed is a system and method for providing and updatinginformation that is less dependent on elements specific to the manner inwhich information is accessed on the server. By providing an accesstechnique according to various aspects of the present invention, customprogramming for the server may be reduced or eliminated. Such customprogramming includes the design of web pages that provide information toa user and the design of web pages and software for acceptinginformation from the user. Without the systems and methods of thepresent invention, cost savings for web page design and maintenance willgo unrealized; and information provided by users of a first group willnot be provided in a timely manner to users of a second group due to theneed for custom programming to be installed to automatically link thetwo.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system, according to various aspects of the present invention, updatesa record of a store; and, includes a compose process and a decomposeprocess. The compose process composes a page to be sent via a network.The page includes a start tag having an attribute value wherein theattribute value includes a value name. As desired, the page may furtherinclude a named value recalled from the record of the store. Thedecompose process decomposes a message received via the network. Themessage includes indicia of the value name and a replacement value. Thedecompose process further updates the named value of the record inaccordance with the replacement value, the record being accessed inaccordance with the indicia of the value name.

A method, according to various aspects of the present invention, isperformed by a server for updating a store. The method includes, in anyorder: (a) parsing a template according to a markup language, the markuplanguage having a start tag that includes an attribute value, parsingbeing performed to determine a value name from the attribute value; (b)preparing a key that includes the value name; (c) preparing a requesthaving a portion of the template after substituting the key for at leastthe attribute value; (d) parsing a message having the key and an updatevalue; and (e) updating the store at a record accessed in accordancewith the key.

By passing information sufficient to locate a record in the store as anattribute value of a start tag of a markup language, conventionalInternet technology can prepare a message sent back to the server thatincludes such information (e.g., as a parameter name) and an updatevalue. For instance, when the message is received as produced by thePOST method of HTTP, the parameter names for each such method need notbe customized for each data transfer operation to reflect particulars ofthe data storage mechanism designed for this transaction and hosted bythe server.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be further described withreference to the drawing, wherein like designations denote likeelements, and:

FIG. 1 is a data flow diagram of cooperation between a server and clientaccording to various aspects of a system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a home page provided by the server and browseprocess of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an edit page provided by the server and browseprocess of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a functional flow diagram for a method performed by a composeprocess of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a functional flow diagram for an alternate method performed inblock 410 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a functional flow diagram for a method performed by adecompose process of the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a functional flow diagram for a method performed by analternate decompose process of the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Systems and methods according to various aspects of the presentinvention solve the problems discussed above and provide a relativelyinexpensive mechanism for providing information to users and allowingusers to update information. These systems and methods provide improvedways for accessing updated records from a record store hosted by asource of information. A source of information generally includes one ormore servers capable of communicating via a network to one or moreclients. Each client generally includes a conventional browser. Thenetwork may include any conventional network comprising wired orwireless links and any implementation of conventional network servicesincluding network formation (e.g., registered nodes and ad hocformation), data storage, data processing, message routing, fail-over,mirroring, and load sharing. Both servers and clients may be implementedusing any conventional computers, including office desk-top computers.In one implementation, the network is simply point-to-point between oneserver and one client. For example, system 100 of FIGS. 1 through 7includes server 110, network 120, and client 140 coupled forcommunication with server 110 via network 120.

Server 110 performs compose process 106, correspond process 108, anddecompose process 114. Server 110 maintains template store 102 forstorage of templates; and record store 104 for storage of information toand from clients. Server 110 suitably includes a processor, memory,network interfaces, and storage peripherals for performing an operatingsystem and application programs. An operating system typically providesa conventional protocol stack for communication via a network. Inalternative implementations according to various aspects of the presentinvention server 110 hosts storage (102, 104), network interfaces, andperforms processes (106, 108, 114, and applications) with any number ofprocessors and instances of these processes cooperating in amultitasking, multithreaded, network environment. Storage, networking,and application program execution functions according to the presentinvention may be distributed among any number of conventional servers. Aserver also suitably manages numerous independent client-serversessions.

Client 140 performs browse process 142 that receives input 143 from auser and provides output 145 to a user. Client 140 suitably includes akeyboard and pointing device for receiving input 143 and may include amonitor, printer, and sound system for providing output 145. Client 140may further include a processor, memory, network interface, and storageperipherals for performing an operating system and application programs.The operating system suitably provides a conventional protocol stack forcommunication via the network. In alternative implementations accordingto various aspects of the present invention client 140 hosts storage,network interfaces, and performs processes (142 and applications) withany number of processors and instances of these processes cooperating ina multitasking, multithreaded, network environment.

On request from browse process 142, server 110 provides information toclient 140 for display by browse process 142 to the user. Informationmay be organized in pages. Each page may correspond to a file stored onserver 110 that is downloaded to browse process 142. The user's initialrequest may be satisfied with a home page having hypertext links toother pages. In response to the user's input to follow a hypertext linkconveyed by browse process 142, server 110 provides a page for displayassociated with the hypertext link. The provided page may have furtherdifferent hypertext links. A hypertext link may be indicated on a pagein any conventional manner. A collection of pages is called a site whenthe collection is generally from a single source of information(regardless of number and location of servers), contains links to otherpages of the set, and generally conforms to a consistent presentation ofcontent. Further, a page may include an entry/edit portion for a user toenter and edit text to be provided to the server. Such text mayalternatively identify one or more files to be transferred (uploaded) bybrowse process 142 to server 110.

To permit variation in client capabilities relating to the presentationof information, communication between a server and a client via anetwork conventionally includes conveying data describing content (e.g.,content data) separate from conveying data describing how the content isto be presented (e.g., presentation data). The separation may beimplemented with any conventional communication diversity. Theassociation of particular presentation data with particular content datamay also be implemented by any conventional communication technique. Ina preferred implementation, message structures provide time diversityand data association wherein presentation data precedes content data ina unit of information on the same channel. The unit may be communicatedin any number of packets and/or messages received in any order and thenorganized so that presentation data is conveniently read before contentdata. To permit presentation to be described generally for the entirecontent of the unit and presentation to be described for particularportions of the content of the unit, any conventional syntax orsemantics may be conveyed with the descriptions. For example, the syntaxand semantics of a markup language may be used. A markup languagegenerally includes tags to describe presentation. The tags aresyntactically recognizable when mixed with content. Tags includeattributes having values.

Particular information sufficient to access a record of record store 104(herein called a key) is provided for use by browse process 142 in amanner that facilitates storage and access of updated information inrecord store 104. A key may include a key-name and/or a key-value. Usinga fully qualified key-value may provide access to one record. Using apartially qualified key-value may provide access to more than one record(e.g., a group or subgroup).

Updates are typically made according to information provided by a userof client 140 and transferred from browse process 142 to server 110according to a command syntax and semantics. According to variousaspects of the present invention, a key is transferred from server 110to browse process 142 so as not to interfere with presentation ofcontent (e.g., the key-value within a tag as an attribute-name); then,the key with updated information is transferred from browse process 142to server 110 in a conventional transfer protocol. A key with updatedinformation may be transferred to server 110 by: (a) a parameter-namethat includes a key-value; and (b) a parameter-value that specifiesupdate information for the record(s) accessed using the key-value.

For clarity of discussion of various aspects of the present invention,presentation and content will be described as conveyed by a network 120according to a markup language. A concise definition of the markuplanguage is presented in Table 1. The symbol “,” means “followed by”;the symbol “ . . . ” means repetition of the preceding item; the symbol“|” means “or”; and brackets “[ ]” enclose optional items. TABLE 1Definition Comment document :: head-element, The head element precedesthe body element. body-element head-element :: head-start- The headelement describes presentation. Some types tag, document-element . . . ,of document-element are legal only in the head- head-end-tag element,however that distinction in this concise definition is omitted forclarity. body-element :: body-start- The body element describes content.Some types of tag, document-element . . . , document-element are legalonly in the body-element, body-end-tag however that distinction in thisconcise definition is omitted for clarity. document-element :: Thesyntax of an end-tag may be used to distinguish the standalone-element |standalone-element from the paired-element. paired-elementstandalone-element :: start- A tag and its associatedattribute-and-value tuples may tag be enclosed in syntax such as “<>” asused in XML and HTML. paired-element :: start-tag, In a document-elementthat is located in the body- (text | document-element), element, thetext between corresponding start and end end-tag tags typically providesthe content of the document. start-tag :: tag-name, Generally, thesemantics includes particular attribute- attribute-and-value . . . namesreserved for use with particular tag-names. For example, a conventionalINPUT tag may include a name attribute that identifies the name of aparameter to receive a value provided by the user. Other tags may useother named attributes to control other functions of the browser.end-tag :: tag-name An end-tag may have syntax (e.g., a slash character)to distinguish it from a start-tag. attribute-and-value :: Forreadability, the attribute name and attribute value attribute-name,attribute- may be associated with syntax (e.g., an equal sign valuefollowing the attribute-name). attribute-value :: text For readability,the text may be enclosed in syntax (e.g., “quoted text”).

Template store 102 and record store 104 may be organized using anyconventional storage software and hardware. For example, templates oftemplate store 102 may be stored, one template per file, in aconventional file system having a pathname evaluated by an operatingsystem to locate each template. Each template may conform to a markuplanguage. Records in record store 104 may be defined and stored as textin a markup language. Access may be accomplished by conventional textsearching and parsing of the markup language. In another implementation,a model of the type described in Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1Specification produced by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (MassachusettsInstitute of Technology, Institut National de Recherche en Informatiqueet en Automatique, Keio University) is used. A DOM may be accessedaccording to a directory access protocol, for example, of the typedescribed by T. Howes and M. Smith, “LDAP: Programming Directory-enabledApplications with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol,” MacmillanTechnical Publishing, 1997. Alternatively, records may be defined,stored, and accessed using any conventional relational databasemanagement system.

A compose process according to various aspects of the present invention,includes any process that prepares a page for use by a client inaccordance with a template, named-values, and substitution. Many aspectsof a page are typically predefined according to one or more templatesthat define presentation and content of the page. For example, composeprocess 106 (activated by each link 112 received from correspond process108) reads a suitable template 103 from template store 102, prepares arespective page 107, and provides the page to correspond process 108. Inpreparing the page 107, compose process 106 accesses record store 104 toretrieve named-values 105. The output page 107 typically includes thepresentation and content as described by the template 102 with portionsof the template replaced by substitution. In preferred implementations,named-values 105 are substituted for markup elements and/or attributesthat make reference to records of store 104.

A template may include data in a markup language compatible with browseprocess 142 and include additional information. The additionalinformation may be used by compose process 106 to simplify referring todata in record store 104. In a preferred implementation, the additionalinformation (beyond the capability of the browse process's markuplanguage defined in Table 1) is defined in an extended markup language.Any template stored in template store 102, therefore, may includeelements of the extended markup language. Preferably, each template ofstore 102 is stored in one file and conforms to the extended markuplanguage. The extended markup language is herein called a DynamicSubstitution Semantics (DSS) language, a concise definition of which ispresented in Table 2. In one implementation, the extended markuplanguage is consistent with the conventional markup language XML so asto include tags consistent with HTML and tags defined herein. Whenbrowse process 142 is compatible only with the markup language HTML,compose process translates nonconforming tags into semantics compatiblewith HTML. TABLE 2 Definition Comment DSS-document :: (DSS- ADSS-head-element provides a context for the following head-element,DSS-body- DSS-body-element(s). element . . .) . . . DSS-head-element ::DSS- In one implementation only one DSS-head-start-tag andhead-start-tag, DSS- DSS-head-end-tag are defined. These appeardocument-element . . . , DSS- respectively as “<DssData>” and“</DssData>”. Some head-end-tag types of DSS-document-element are legalonly in the DSS-head-element, however that distinction in this concisedefinition is omitted for clarity. DSS-body-element :: DSS- In oneimplementation only one DSS-body-start-tag and body-start-tag, extended-DSS-body-end-tag are defined. These appear document, DSS-body-end-respectively as “<DssDisplay>” and “</DssDisplay>”. tag Some types ofDSS-document-element are legal only in the body-element, however thatdistinction in this concise definition is omitted for clarity.extended-document :: An extended-document is a document as defined in([text], DSS-document- Table 1 further comprising a DSS-document-elementat element) . . . , [text] any place where a document-element, anattribute- value, or text may appear. Parsing for DSS-document- elementsis preferably implemented with regard to the syntax of a document asdefined in Table 1 but without regard for the semantics of such adocument. DSS-document-element :: A DSS-document-element may be adocument-element DSS-standalone-element | as defined in Table 1. Thesyntax of an end-tag may be DSS-paired-element | used to distinguish thestandalone-element from the document-element paired-element.DSS-standalone-element :: Standalone elements in one implementationinclude tags DSS-start-tag named “DssFile”, “DssItem”, and “DssItem@”. Atag and its associated attribute-and-value tuples may be enclosed insyntax such as “<>” as used in XML and HTML. DSS-paired-element :: DSS-Paired elements in one implementation include a tag start-tag, (text |DSS- named “DssItems” or “DssList”. document-element), DSS- end-tagDSS-start-tag :: DSS-tag- Generally, the semantics includes particularattribute- name, attribute-and-value . . . names reserved for use withparticular tag-names. Attributes for a preferred set of DSS tags aredescribed in Table 3. The syntax and semantics for attribute-and- valueare defined in Table 1. DSS-end-tag :: DSS-tag- An end-tag may havesyntax (e.g., a slash character) to name distinguish it from astart-tag.

Access to named-values stored in record store 104, according to variousaspects of the present invention is facilitated by a hierarchical namingconvention. Preferably, the hierarchy has three levels. In oneimplementation the levels are: list-name, sequence-number, andvalue-name. By this organization, members of a list may have any numberof named-values; and named-values may be of various lengths. Theorganization permits a one to one relation between value-name and listmember (e.g., each member has one named-value for a given value-name);and permits a many to one relation between value-name and list member(e.g., a member may have several named-values each having the samevalue-name). The hierarchy also permits partial specification to beresolved as a proper reference to several records. For example,specifying only a list-name and value-name will access matching recordshaving any sequence-number. Or, specifying only a list-name andsequence-number will access matching records having any value-name.

The DSS-start-tags mentioned in Table 2 may include attributes asdescribed in Table 3. TABLE 3 DSS-start-tag and Attribute- its Purposename Comment DssData none Purpose: to demarcate the dss- head-elementDssDisplay none In an alternate implementation where DssDisplay Purpose:to elements are included in data flows 107, 109, and 131, demarcate thedss- attributes of the DssDisplay element may provide notice tobody-element browse process 142 or to the user of client 140. Notice mayinclude, for example, version identification of decompose process 114and/or legal notices of proprietary rights or license terms. DssFilename The name attribute identifies an information source, a Purpose: toidentify filename, or a pathname. a record store (104). DssItem listIdentifies the portion of a key (e.g., a value matching Purpose: tospecify entries in column “List-Name” of Table 4) for access to a avalue for use in group of records (e.g., rows 16-21) in store 104. Ifnot text substitution. specified, a default value (e.g., list=“default”)may be used. sequence Identifies the portion of a key (e.g., a valuematching entries in column “Sequence-Number” of Table 4) for access to asubgroup of records (e.g., rows 18-19) in store 104. If used within aDssItems context, values for list and name may be implied from thecontext. name Identifies the portion of a key (e.g., a value matchingentries in column “Value-Name” of Table 4) for access to a single record(e.g., row 19) in store 104. DssItem@ list The attributes for DssItem@have the same purpose as Purpose: to specify sequence similarly namedattributes for DssItem. While DssItem the name of a value name providesaccess to a named value, DssItem@ constructs a for use in text valuename partially or fully qualified. For example, in substitution theanimal shelter site discussed below, A DssItem@ with attribute name =“Name” in the context of a DssItems element may provide in turn“dogs_1_Name” and “dogs_2_Name” in the text substitution for DssItems.DssItems list Identifies the portion of a key (e.g., a value matchingPurpose: to specify entries in column “List-Name” of Table 4) for accessto a an indefinite group of records (e.g., rows 16-21) in store 104. Ifnot number of specified, a default value (e.g., list=“default”) may berecords (e.g., all used. records of a list) start When less than allnumbered subgroups (e.g., sequences) of a list are desired, no recordsprior to the specified start value will be accessed. size Specifies thenumber of subgroups to present on one page. Typically such a page has abutton (e.g., a “more” button) allowing the user to request anotherbatch of subgroups of the same quantity as the initial number.

A correspond process transmits a page to a client and on receipt ofmessages from the client provides data to a decompose process forupdating a record store. For example, correspond process 108 receives apage 107 from compose process 106 and provides messages 109 to network120 according to protocols compatible with network 120. On receipt ofmessages 111 from network 120, correspond process 108 provides data 113to decompose process 114. Messages 109 and 113 may comply with networkprotocols (e.g., TCP/IP). For example, messages 109 may convey per HTTPa document (as defined in Table 1) corresponding to one page. Messages111 may include user input and/or instructions to follow links asdiscussed above, such as conforming to an HTTP GET command. Or, messages111 may conform to an HTTP POST command.

A decompose process receives one or more tuples from a correspondprocess and facilitates action on a record store, for example, to revisea value stored in the record store. Other actions may include allocatingstorage for a new value, setting the stored value to a default value(e.g., when the tuple includes a null value), or deallocating storage.Each tuple from the correspond process may include informationsufficient to identify which value of the record store is to be acted onand information to complete the revision of that value. For eachreceived tuple, the decompose process determines whether the named valueexists in the record store, allocates suitable storage as desired,determines the name and value sufficient to locate a storage locationfor the named value.

For example, decompose process 114 typically receives a series ofparametric expressions. A parametric expression (e.g., father=Paul)provides the name of a parameter (e.g., “father”) in association with(e.g., “=” syntax) a value (e.g., “Paul”) for that parameter. Theparameter name is sufficient to locate the corresponding current valuein record store 104. The new value may be null (e.g., indicating thatthe value is to be cleared), comprise a code (e.g., a reserved valueindicating that storage for the value is to be deallocated), or a propervalue to replace the corresponding current value. In a preferredimplementation, decompose process 114 receives a tuple of the form:a_b_c=d wherein ‘a’, ‘b’, and ‘c’ respectively specify the group (e.g.,list-name), subgroup (e.g., sequence-number), and item (e.g.,value-name) for accessing a record, and ‘d’ specifies a replacement textvalue for the item. Here, the parameter name (e.g., a_b_c) is the resultof concatenating portions of the hierarchical naming convention ofrecord store 104 and an intervening symbol, “_”. In otherimplementations any order of concatenation and any intervening symbol orno symbol may be used.

Systems and methods according to the present invention may be applied toany information system (e.g., commercial order entry, non-profitsupplier of information, or any conventional application serviceprovider (ASP) function). Merely for purposes of illustrating theadvantages and operation of systems according to various aspects of thepresent invention and not for limiting the scope of the claimedinvention in any way, a site is described herein for operation of ananimal shelter.

The animal shelter site described below includes exemplary records instore 104 as described in Tables 4 and 5; and, exemplary templates instore 102 as described in Table 6. The site page plan views of FIG. 2and FIG. 3 generally correspond to suitable templates, although textcase and font size, for example, cannot be portrayed without offendingpatent drawing requirements. Each template may be stored individually ina text file, for example, template 200 in animalshelter.dss; a view page(not shown) for dogs in dogs.dss; and a view page for cats (not shown)in cats.dss.

A typical animal shelter site would have dozens of respectivedescriptions (e.g., rows 33-37 of Table 4) of dogs, cats, and otherpets, though only two dogs are included herein for convenience ofdescription of aspects of the invention. Cats and other pets may bedescribed conveniently with more, different, or fewer details (i.e.,named-values). Descriptions of similar types of pets (e.g., dogs) neednot have named-values for all details. In other words, a particulardescription may have fewer than a full set of records (e.g., Trainingrecord omitted because extent of training cannot be determined) or somerecords of the set may have null values.

A record store, according to various aspects of the present invention,stores named-values. A record store may be organized logically and/orphysically as records each having the same number of fields with anynumber of suitable indexes (if any). For example, record store 104 inone implementation includes one record for each row in Table 4. Forclarity of presentation, not all records for a typical animal sheltersite are shown in Table 4. Each column of Table 4 provides, in theheading row, the field-name of a field for the column and a respectivefield-value in each row. Groups and subgroups of records are identifiedby having common field-values. Records of record store 104 may be sortedand indexed in any conventional manner facilitating any unique orsimilar access by compose process 106 and decompose processes 114. Forexample, records corresponding to Table 4 include five groups (alsocalled lists): rows 1-15, rows 16-21, rows 22-27, rows 28-32, and rows33-43. Each group may have any number of subgroups. For example, thegroup of records corresponding to rows 33-43 has two subgroups: rows33-37 and 38-43. Subgroups of the same group may have differentquantities of records. A field-value may be any data item including:literal text (e.g., rows 1-3 of Table 4), a name of a file existing onthe server (e.g., rows 4 and 21), or a reference to another group,subgroup, or item (e.g., rows 14 and 15). TABLE 4 Sequence- RowList-Name Number Value-Name Named-Value 1 default 0 BGColor white 2default 0 Font Arial 3 default 0 ShelterName Taylor County AnimalShelter 4 default 0 Logo logo.jpg 5 default 0 Address1 123 Main 6default 0 Address2 P.O. Box 569 7 default 0 CityStateZip Medford, WI54451 8 default 0 Phone (715) 748-1234 9 default 0 Emailpets@generic.com 10 default 0 Hours Mon-Fri 8 to 5 11 default 0WelcomeMsg Visit us at the Mall. Donations welcome! 12 default 0 TitlePet Of The Week 13 default 0 PrizePetLink http://127.0.0.1/cgi-bin/dss/dss.pl?PrizePetEdit.dss 14 default 0 PrizePetList dogs 15default 0 PrizePetSeq 2 16 navigation 1 MenuItem Home 17 navigation 1MenuReference animalshelter.dss 18 navigation 2 MenuItem Dogs 19navigation 2 MenuReference dogs.dss 20 navigation 3 MenuItem Cats 21navigation 3 MenuReference cats.dss 22 dogsdetails 1 Detail Name 23dogsdetails 2 Detail Breed 24 dogsdetails 3 Detail Age 25 dogsdetails 4Detail Text 26 dogsdetails 5 Detail Image 27 dogsdetails 6 DetailTraining 28 catsdetails 1 Detail Name 29 catsdetails 2 Detail Breed 30catsdetails 3 Detail Age 31 catsdetails 4 Detail Text 32 catsdetails 5Detail Image 33 dogs 1 Name Bubba 34 dogs 1 Breed Mix 35 dogs 1 Age 3Months 36 dogs 1 Text Bubba is a happy little dog who LOVES to play.He's very affectionate. He doesn't bark and sheds very little. 37 dogs 1Image dog1.jpg 38 dogs 2 Name Jake 39 dogs 2 Breed Black Labrador 40dogs 2 Age 1 Year 41 dogs 2 Text Jake loves kids! He is a good hunterand loyal companion. 42 dogs 2 Image dog2.jpg 43 dogs 2 Training Willsit, come, and fetch. Will not heel or stay.

The information in record store 104 may be maintained in a markuplanguage, for example, as shown in Table 5. Various rows of Table 5 maybe stored individually in text files. For example, rows 1-32 inanimalshelter.data; rows 33-43 in dogs.data. Alternatively, all recordsfor the site may be stored in one text file. Instead of conventionaltext file storage techniques, any conventional database storagetechnique may be used. TABLE 5 Record <DssItem list= “default” sequence=“0” name= “BGColor”>white</DssItem> <DssItem list= “default” sequence=“0” name= “Font”>Arial</DssItem> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0”name= “ShelterName”>Taylor County Animal Shelter</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Logo”>logo.jpg</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Address1”>123 Main</DssItem><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Address2”>P.O. Box569</DssItem> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“CityStateZip”>Medford, WI 54451</DssItem> <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “Phone”>(715) 748-1234</DssItem> <DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “Email”> pets@generic.com</DssItem><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Hours”>Mon-Fri 8 to5<br></DssItem> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“WelcomeMsg”>Visit us at the Mall. Donations welcome!</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Title”>Pet Of The Week</DssItem><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“PrizePetLink”>http://127.0.0.1/cgi-bin/dss/dss.pl?PrizePetEdit.dss</DssItem> <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>dogs</DssItem> <DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetSeq”>2</DssItem> <DssItem list=“navigation” sequence= “1” name= “MenuItem”>Home</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “navigation” sequence= “1” name=“MenuReference”>animalshelter.dss</DssItem> <DssItem list= “navigation”sequence= “2” name= “MenuItem”>Dogs</DssItem> <DssItem list=“navigation” sequence= “2” name= “MenuReference”>dogs.dss</DssItem><DssItem list= “navigation” sequence= “3” name=“MenuItem”>Cats</DssItem> <DssItem list= “navigation” sequence= “3”name= “MenuReference”>cats.dss</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogsdetails”sequence= “1” name= “Detail”>Name</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogsdetails”sequence= “2” name= “Detail”>Breed<DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogsdetails”sequence= “3” name= “Detail”>Age</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogsdetails”sequence= “4” name= “Detail”>Text</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogsdetails”sequence= “5” name= “Detail”>Image</DssItem> <DssItem list=“dogsdetails” sequence= “6” name= “Detail”>Training</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “catsdetails” sequence= “1” name= “Detail”>Name</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “catsdetails” sequence= “2” name= “Detail”>Breed<DssItem> <DssItemlist= “catsdetails” sequence= “3” name= “Detail”>Age</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “catsdetails” sequence= “4” name= “Detail”>Text</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “catsdetails” sequence= “5” name= “Detail”>Image</DssItem><DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “1” name= “Name”>Bubba</DssItem><DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “1” name= “Breed”>Mix</DssItem> <DssItemlist= “dogs” sequence= “1” name= “Age”>3 Months</DssItem> <DssItem list=“dogs” sequence= “1” name= “Text”>Bubba is a happy little dog who LOVESto play. He's very affectionate. He doesn't bark and sheds verylittle.</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “1” name=“Image”>dog1.jpg</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2” name=“Name”>Jake</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2” name=“Breed”>Black Labrador</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2”name= “Age”>1 Year</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2” name=“Text”>Jake loves kids! He is a good hunter and loyalcompanion.</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2” name=“Image”>dog2.jpg</DssItem> <DssItem list= “dogs” sequence= “2” name=“Training”>Will sit, come, and fetch. Will not heel or stay.</DssItem>

Generally, each template is a DSS-document as described above in Table 2with attributes per Tables 1 and 3. Prepared pages 107 includesubstituted text for DSS-document-elements and/or substituted text forattribute-and-value items. Prepared pages 107 further suitably includekey-values as attribute-values. Entry/edit messages 133 includekey-values as parameter-names and named-values as parameter-values, asdiscussed above. TABLE 6 For Page Template 200 <DssData><DssFile name=“animalshelter.data”></DssData><DssDisplay><html> <body bgcolor=<DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “BGColor”>> <center><tablewidth=100%><tr><td><img src= “images/<DssItem list= “default” sequence=“0” name= “Logo”>”></td><td><center><font face=<DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name=“Font”> size=7><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0”name= “ShelterName”></font></center></td></tr></table> <fontface=<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=2><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“WelcomeMsg”></font></center><hr> <table cellspacing=10width=100%><tr><td valign=top width=200> <font face=<DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=2> <DssItems list=“navigation”> <a href= “dss.pl?<DssItem name= “MenuReference”>”><DssItemname= “MenuItem”></a><br></DssItems><br><br><hr> <DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “Address1”><br> <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “Address2”><br> <DssItem list= “default” sequence=“0” name= “CityStateZip”><br> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0”name= “Phone”><br> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“Hours”><br> <a href=mailto:<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“Email”>> <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“Email”></a><br></font><br> </td><td width=*><center><font face=<DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=4><DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “Title”></font><br> <font face=<DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=2>Hi, I'm <DssItemlist= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>”sequence= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetSeq”>”name= “Name”>. Click my picture!</font><br> <a href= “<DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetLink”>& <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>.data_(—) <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>_(—) <DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetSeq”>”> <img width=120 height=100 src=“images/<DssItem list= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“PrizePetList”>” sequence= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“PrizePetSeq”>” name=“Image”>”></a></center></td></table></body></html></DssDisplay> 300<DssData><DssFile name= “animalshelter.data”><DssFile name= “dogs.data”></DssData><DssDisplay><html> <body bgcolor=<DssItem list= “default”sequence= “0” name= “BGColor”> > <center><table width=100%> <tr><td><imgsrc= “images/<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“Logo”>”></td><td> <center><font face=<DssItem list= “default” sequence=“0” name= “Font”> size=7><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“ShelterName”></font></center> </td></tr></table> <font face=<DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=2><DssItem list=“default” sequence= “0” name= “WelcomeMsg”></font></center><hr> <tablecellspacing=10 width=100%> <tr><td valign=top width=200> <fontface=<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”> size=2><DssItems list= “navigation”> <a href= “dss.pl?Admin<DssItem name=“MenuReference”>”>[Edit]</a> <a href= “dss.pl?<DssItem name=“MenuReference”>”> <DssItem name=“MenuItem”></a><br></DssItems><br><br><hr> </font><br></td><td width=*><center><font face=<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Font”>size=4><DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “Title”></font><br><img width=120 height=100 src= “images/<DssItem list= “dogs” sequence=“<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetSeq”>” name=“Image”>”></td> </table></center><form method= “post” action=“DSS_Update.pl”> <pre>Title <input type=text size=50 name=<DssItem@name= “Title”> value= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“Title”>”> Page <input type=text size=50 name=<DssItem@ name=“PrizePetList”> value= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“PrizePetList”>”> Number <input type=text size=50 name=<DssItem@ name=“PrizePetSeq”> value= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name=“PrizePetSeq”>”> <input type=submit value= “Update”></form> <formmethod= “post” action= “DSS_Update.pl”><pre><DssItems list= “<DssItemlist= “default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>details”> <DssItemname= “Detail”> <input type=text size=50 name= “<DssItem@ list=“<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0” name= “PrizePetList”>” name=“Detail”>” value= “<DssItem list= <DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0”name= “PrizePetList”> sequence= “<DssItem list= “default” sequence= “0”name= “PrizePetSeq”>” name= “<DssItem name= “Detail”>”>”></DssItems></pre><input type=submit value=“Update”></form></body></html></DssDisplay>

The results of composing pages based on templates of Table 6 aredescribed in Table 7. TABLE 7 Page Result of Composing 200 <html><bodybgcolor=white ><center><table width=100%> <tr><td><img src=“images/logo.jpg”></td><td> <center><font face=Arial size=7>TaylorCounty Animal Shelter</font> </center></td></tr></table> <fontface=Arial size=2>Visit us at the Mall. Donations welcome!</font></center><hr><table cellspacing=10 width=100%> <tr><td valign=topwidth=200><font face=Arial size=2> <a href=“dss.pl?animalshelter.dss”>Home</a><br> <a href=“dss.pl?dogs.dss”>Dogs</a><br> <a href=“dss.pl?cats.dss”>Cats</a><br><br><hr> 123 Main<br>P.O. Box569<br>Medford, WI 54451<br> (715) 748-1234<br>Mon-Fri 8 to 5<br> <aref=mailto:pets@generic.com> pets@generic.com</a><br></font><br></td><td width=*><center><font face=Arial size=4>Pet Of The Week</font><br><font face=Arial size=2>Hi, I'm Jake. Click my picture!</font><br> <ahref= “http://127.0.0.1/cgi-bin/dss/dss.pl?PrizePetEdit.dss&dogs.data_dogs_2”> <img width=400height=300 src= “images/dog2.jpg”></a></center></td></table></body></html> 300 <html><bodybgcolor=white ><center> <table width=100%><tr><td><img src=“images/logo.jpg”></td><td> <center><font face=Arial size=7>TaylorCounty Animal Shelter</font></center> </td></tr></table> <fontface=Arial size=2>Visit us at the Mall. Donations welcome!</font></center><hr><table cellspacing=10 width=100%><tr> <td valign=topwidth=200><font face=Arial size=2> <a href=“dss.pl?Adminanimalshelter.dss”>[Edit]</a> <a href=“dss.pl?animalshelter.dss”>Home</a><br> <a href=“dss.pl?Admindogs.dss”>[Edit]</a> <a href=“dss.pl?dogs.dss”>Dogs</a><br> <a href=“dss.pl?Admincats.dss”>[Edit]</a> <a href=“dss.pl?cats.dss”>Cats</a><br> <br><br><hr></font><br></td><td width=*><center><font face=Arial size=4>Pet Of The Week</font><br> <imgwidth=120 height=100 src= “images/dog2.jpg”></center> <form method=“post” action= “DSS_Update.pl”><pre> Title < input type=text size=50name= animalshelter.data_default_0_Title value= “Pet Of The Week”> Page< input type=text size=50 name=animalshelter.data_default_0_PrizePetList value= “dogs”> Number < inputtype=text size=50 name= animalshelter.data_default_0_PrizePetSeq value=“2”> </pre><input type=submit value= “Update”></form><br> <form method=“post” action= “DSS_Update.pl”><pre> Name <input type=text size=50name=dogs.data_dogs_2_Name value= “Jake”> Breed <input type=text size=50name=dogs.data_dogs_2_Breed value= “Black Labrador”> Age <inputtype=text size=50 name=dogs.data_dogs_2_Age value= “1 Year”> Text <inputtype=text size=50 name=dogs.data_dogs_2_Text value= “Jake loves kids! Heis a good hunter and loyal companion.”> Image <input type=text size=50name= dogs.data_dogs_2_Image value= “dog2.jpg”> Training <inputtype=text size=50 name= dogs.data_dogs_2_Training value= “Will sit,come, and fetch. Will not heel or stay.”></pre> <input type=submitvalue= “Update”></form></body></html>

The site described above is maintained by server 110. In operation, auser of client 140 requests (143) a home page (200 of FIG. 2) from thesite (102, 104) sponsored by the animal shelter. In response to therequest, server 110 activates processes (106, 108) in any conventionalmanner to compose home page 200 from a template and from data from arecord store. As discussed above, compose process 106 prepares a page107 and correspond process 108 sends a corresponding page 109 to client140. In this simple example site, the user clicking on picture 206requests (143) an edit page (300 of FIG. 3) to select the featured petand to edit the description of the featured pet.

After editing values in input text boxes 311-313, the user clicks onupdate button 314. In response to user input, browser 142 prepares anHTTP POST message 133. Correspond process receives the POST message 111and passes information 113 to decompose process 114. Information 113typically includes a parametric expression having a named-value, such asa key and replacement text. The POST message is described in Table 8.Consequently, decompose process 114 updates values in record store 104.For example, the featured pet may be changed from dog number 2 from thepage of dogs.data to cat number 4 from the page of cats.data (notshown). TABLE 8 POST Message POST /cgi-bin/dss/dss.pl HTTP/1.0 [otherconventional header information omitted for clarity]dogs.data_default_0_Title=Most+popular+pet&dogs.data_default_0_PrizePetList=dogs& dogs.data_default_0_PrizePetSeq=2

After editing values in input text boxes 315-320, the user clicks onupdate button 322. In response to user input, browser 142 prepares anHTTP POST message 133. As before, correspond process receives the POSTmessage 111 and passes information 113 to decompose process 114. ThePOST message is described in Table 9. Consequently, decompose process114 updates values in record store 104. For example, the dog's name(i.e., the record corresponding to row 38 of Table 4) is changed from“Jake” to “Djayk”. TABLE 9 POST Message POST /cgi-bin/dss/dss.plHTTP/1.0 [other conventional header information omitted for clarity]dogs.data_doges_2_Name=Djayk& dogs.data_doges_2_Breed= Dalmatian&dogs.data_doges_2_Age=2+Years& dogs.data_doges_2_Text= He's+so+cute!&dogs.data_doges_2_Image=dogs2.jpg&dogs.data_doges_2_Training=Will+heel,+sit,+stay,+and+come.

In an alternate implementation, data from the forms discussed above isprovided to server 110 by a suitable HTTP GET command as specifiedaccording to the GET method of each form element.

Home page 200 of FIG. 2 includes seven regions for the presentation ofcontent. Region 201 presents a logo 201. Region 202 presents thesponsor's name. Region 203 presents a welcome message. Region 204presents a menu of links to other pages of the site (not shown). Region205 presents a caption describing region 206. Region 206 presents apicture of a featured pet with a link to edit page 300 of FIG. 3. Region207 presents the sponsor's contact information.

View page 300 of FIG. 3 includes six regions 301-306 for presentation ofcontent and one region 310 for user entry/edit of named values. Regions301-303 corresponding to regions 201-203. On clicking any link in region204, or clicking the corresponding link in region 304, a suitable viewpage is prepared and presented to the user. In region 304, “[EDIT]”links lead to the presentation of a suitable edit page. An edit page,for example, provides a mechanism for user selection of a particular petand editing of that pet's description. Each underlying view page andedit page related to an “[EDIT]” link is implemented using DSS languageconstructs of the type discussed herein.

The look and feel of the site is controlled by sole authority records.According to one aspect of the present invention, update of content forregions in common among several templates (e.g., 201-203 and 301-303) isaccomplished by conveniently updating various sole authority records ofstore 104 (e.g. rows 3, 4, and 11 of Table 4), as opposed to editing thetext of several independent templates. Further, an unlimited number ofartistic features of the site may be specified in sole authority recordsof store 104 (e.g., background color and font) and referred to intemplates to simplify assuring a uniform look of the site and tosimplify updating the look of the site. Although only background colorand font are specified (e.g., rows 1-2 of Table 4), any number of namedvalues may be used.

The feel of the site is maintained uniform, according to various aspectsof the present invention, by avoiding referring in a template toparticular items of a group when a reference to the group is logicallysufficient. Consequently, the group is identified by list-name and/orsequence-number in store 104; and, details of particular items of thegroup and/or sequence are stored in one or more sole authority recordsof store 104. For example, menus in regions 204 and 304 are maintaineduniform in templates 200 and 300 without reference to particular menuitems. Further, reference to the description of a pet in region 310 ismade without reference in template 300 to particular items of thatdescription.

Consistency and simplicity of expansion are gained by use ofDss-elements according to various aspects of the present invention. Asto consistency, note that region 304 presents the same menu of links aspresented in region 204; and, the menu texts and links are specifiedonly once in store 104. As to simplicity of expansion, if it is desiredto add another menu item, it is not necessary to edit template 200 or300. The desired menu item text and link are merely added to store 104.

Template design is simplified by use of nested Dss-document-elements.For example, templates 200 and 300 include Dss-paired-elements usingdifferent DssItems start-tags. Each respective DssItems start tag hasattribute-values specified by another (i.e., nested)Dss-document-element. In the case of region 204, text substitutionprovides links to a PERL script on server 110 that are called with aparameter whose value directs processing according to the menu selection(e.g., menu item CATS links to dss.pl?cats.dss). As shown, the same PERLscript (dss.pl) is called for each menu item. In an alternateimplementation, text substitution is used to compose a different PERLscript for each menu item and PERL script parameters are omitted, (e.g.,CATS links to cats.pl).

Caption 205 includes data accessed directly from store 104 via onerespective Dss-document-element per access. In caption 205, thedistinction earned by the featured pet is provided by text substitutionwith a direct reference to a value-name (Title) in store 104 (e.g.,animalshelter.data). The direct reference is made using aDss-document-element called DssItem.

Caption 205 also includes data accessed indirectly from store 104 via aDss-document-element that includes two other Dss-document-elements.Generally, indirection uses a named value from a first record to accessanother record. In caption 205, the name of the featured pet is providedby text substitution with an indirect reference to the pet name(corresponding to row 38 of Table 4). The reference is indirect due tothe fact that the featured pet is a member of a specified group (eitherthe dogs or cats lists); and, the description of the featured pet is aspecified subgroup (sequence number) of that group. As shown in Table 6for the name of the featured pet, DssItem elements appear as attributevalues (one for list and one for sequence) in a surrounding DssItemelement.

Region 310 includes titled entry/edit text boxes 311-313, a first updatebutton 314, titled entry/edit boxes 315-320 and a second update button322. Entry/edit text boxes initially present the current named value ofeach respective value name. The titles need not correspond to the valuenames (e.g., PrizePetList is titled PAGE). As shown, entry/edit textboxes include revised text not yet posted to store 104. The revised textdiffers from current values (e.g., corresponding rows 12, 38-41, and 43of Table 4).

Reference to the description of the featured pet in region 310 (i.e.,Name, Breed, Age, Text, Image, and Training) is accomplished in template300 by referring to a group, referring to a subgroup, and by makingindirect reference to each detail of the subgroup. The group isidentified by the list attribute in the DssItems element (dogsdetails).In the first appearing DssItem@ element, the group is implied by thelist attribute of the prior DssItems element (dogsdetails). A listattribute is specified in a later appearing DssItem@ element to overridethat context. In particular, a different group (dogs) is specified whenreferring to each item's value. Indirect references are made throughitems of another list (default) which specifies the featured pet group(PrizePetList) and subgroup (PrizePetSeq) values. By making indirectreferences, the featured pet is stored in store 104 in sole authorityrecords without duplication of information. Templates do not need to berevised when the identity of the featured pet is changed, for example,from a dog to a cat. By describing the featured pet in template 300 witha reference to a group (as opposed to literally naming each detail) thenumber of details for different pets (e.g., dogsdetails and catsdetails)is controlled by sole authority records in store 104 without duplicationof information. The number of details may vary.

A pet description entry/edit page (not shown) may appear and function ina manner similar to regions 306 and 310 discussed above. In oneimplementation, additional buttons are included for adding a new pet,clearing the form, and deleting the current pet.

A compose method 400 of FIG. 4 in one implementation of process 106begins with retrieving a template (402). The template is parsed. Parsingincludes a serial search of the template. When the template is stored ina hierarchical tree organization (e.g., a DOM), parsing may proceednode-to-node. For the discussion that follows, a template in markup textis presumed for clarity of presentation. To parse the template in markuptext, each DSS-document-element is processed in a loop (404 through444). Parsing identifies seven cases (406, 408, 410, 414, 418, and 442)according to the tag-name of the start-tag of the DSS-document-element.Each case invokes a respective process.

To process (406) a DSS data element, a context is defined for the nextDSS display element. The context being defined may be nested within aprior context. The scope of the context extends to all DSS displayelements occurring up to the next DSS data element. In an alternateimplementation, the DSS data element encloses all Dss display elementsthat it affects. In the preferred implementation, the DSS data elementin total precedes all DSS display elements that it affects. The contextmay include any conventional HTML or XML document elements. Typically,the context includes one or more DSS file elements to identify,override, and/or supplement use of a default record store.

To process (408) a DSS file element, a portion of the record store isidentified as specified in the element with reference to any priorcontext or default values (e.g., completing a system pathname when onlya partial path is specified). The identified records are to be used inresolving DSS elements within the scope of the context (406). Typically,only one DSS file element occurs in a context. When multiple DSS fileelements are encountered, the records so indicated are searched (orindexed) with regard to the order in which the DSS file elements wereencountered. Modularity in record stores may be implemented as desiredfor grouping site functions into modules of records. All referencedrecords may be added to one record store in any conventional manner.

To process (410) a DSS display element, in one implementation, anindication that the page contains elements in the DSS language is addedto the output page. This indication may be useful for browsers havingfunctions specific to DSS language elements that may be present in thecomposed page. The DSS display element may be passed to the output sothat the composed page includes one or more of “<DssDisplay>” and“</DssDisplay>” tags. In the example site discussed above, aconventional browser is used in each client, no DSS tags remain in thecomposed page, and therefore, no indication of DSS language elements isprovided in the composed page.

To process (414) a DSS item element, the named-value to which itsattribute-and-value tuples (if any) refer (by default, partialspecification, or full specification) is recalled from the record storespecified by the context. The recalled named-value is then output inplace of the DSS item element. For example, when <Dss-item list=“dogs”,sequence=“1”, name=“Age”> is encountered in the template, “3 Months”(row 35 of Table 4) is output in the composed page.

To process (418) a DSS-item@ element, a corresponding key that includesa value-name is determined from context including theattribute-and-value tuples of the DSS-item@ element. The key is thenoutput in place of the DSS item element. For example, when <Dss-item@name=“Age”> is encountered in the template, “Age” is output in thecomposed page. In another implementation, the output includes aqualified value-name, for example, “dogs_(—)1_Age”. In a preferredimplementation, the output includes a fully qualified value-name, forexample, dogs.data_dogs_(—)1_Age”. The extent of qualification may bepart of the context defined by other DSS elements (e.g., DSS display).

Context is provided by a preceding or enclosing Dss-document-element;or, by attributes of the Dss-document-element being parsed. For example,in a Dss-item@ element a filename may be provided by a precedingDss-file element. A List-Name may be provided by an enclosing Dss-itemselement, or by a list attribute in the DSS-item element. ASequence-Number may be provided by operation of a DSS-items element. Theparser may track the most recently referred to file, list, and/orsequence number; and, resolve omitted specifications in a manner of thetype used for scope of variable sin a block-structured programminglanguage (e.g., ALGOL).

To process (424-432) a DSS items element, iteration control variablesare set (424) to initial values. The loop control variable is set to thestarting sequence-number (or a default value) as provided by anattribute-value in the DSS-items element. For each value (428) of theloop control variable (e.g., the current sequence-number), theelement(s) within the scope of the DSS items element are evaluated(e.g., a recursive call to DSS display element parsing (500)). Theattribute-values of the DSS-items element (e.g., list) provideadditional context for evaluation of DSS document elements. Afterevaluation, document-element(s) are output having named-values inaccordance with the current sequence-number. Repetition continues until(432) the loop control variable is incremented past the page size limitspecified in an attribute-value of the DSS items element (if any), adefault value is reached, or the last sequence-number of the group hasbeen processed.

To process (442) all other document elements that are not DSS standaloneelements or DSS paired elements as processed in cases discussed above(406, 408, 410, 414, 418, or 424), the document element is passed to theoutput (442) without text substitution.

After determining (444) that the end of the template has been reached,method 400 is complete (446) and ready for new input. In theimplementation discussed above, DSS display elements are not nested,simplifying the parsing function (404).

In an alternate method, DSS display elements provide context withinwhich other DSS elements are processed. The context may be supplementedby nesting a DSS display element within an enclosing DSS displayelement. Processing a DSS display element according to method 500 beginswith parsing (502) the DSS display element's enclosed text in a loop(502-512). Parsing seeks to identify DSS document elements, outputsubstituted text in place of these elements, and pass all other documentelements unchanged to the output. References to a record store areresolved with reference to the context (406, 408) as discussed above.

A DSS document element may be encountered in a semantic context as astandalone element, as a paired element, or as an attribute value. If(504) the DSS document element is encountered in a semantic context asan attribute value of a document element (as opposed to anattribute-value of a DSS-standalone-element or a DSS-paired-element),processing continues as described below (508). Otherwise, parsingidentifies four cases according to the tag-name of the start-tag of theDSS-document-element. Each case is processed as discussed above: DSSitem elements (414), DSS item@ elements (418), DSS items elements(424-432), and other non-DSS elements (442). If nesting of DSS displayelements is supported, a fifth case for processing DSS display elements(500) is implemented with recursion.

If the DSS document element was encountered (512) in a context as theattribute-value of a document element, a key is formed (508) and output(510) in place of the DSS document element. For example, when <inputtype=“text” name=“<DssItem@ list=“dogs”, sequence=“1”, name=“Age”>> isencountered in the template, “<input type=“text” name=“dogs_(—)1_Age”>”is output in the composed page. By preparing and outputting a key, anHTTP POST message may then be formed by browse process 142, for example,“dogs_(—)1_Age=2 Years” as specified in an edit by the user. Properparsing recognizes that the DSS document-element occurs in the contextof another document element. In other words, parsing may proceed torecognize a first start-tag of a first document element (e.g., “input”).The first start-tag may have an attribute-and-value (e.g., “name”). Thevalue may include a second start-tag of a second document element (e.g.,“DSS-item@”). The second start-tag may also have attribute-and-valuetuples (e.g., “list”, “sequence”, and “name”). The attribute-values ofthe second start-tag are used to form the key. The context of the firststart-tag (or context of an attribute-and-value) signals the parser thata key is to be formed (508) and output (510) as opposed to looking up avalue (e.g., 3 Months) to be output (506).

After output has been defined for the encountered document element, itis determined whether the end of the DSS display element has beenreached (512). If so, control returns (514) to the calling process.Otherwise, processing continues to parse DSS document elements (502).

After context has been defined and/or output has been provided for theencountered DSS-document-elements (606, 608, 640, 642) it is determinedwhether the end of the template has been reached (644). In not,processing continues with parsing (604) of the nextDSS-document-element. If so, then composing is complete (646).

An implementation of method 400 that includes method 500 in place ofcase 410 omits cases 414, 418, and 424 from loop 404-444. The functionsof the omitted cases are performed within block 506 as discussed above.

An implementation of method 400 that accounts for use of adocument-element as an attribute-value as discussed above (504, 506,508, 510) may include functions similar to 504, 508, and 510 in eachcase 414, 418, and/or 424.

A decompose method 600 of FIG. 6 in one implementation of process 114begins with parsing (602) data received from client 140 in a message. Itis determined from a “name” attribute and context the fields and valuesfor accessing record store 104, for example, List-Name, Sequence-Number,and Value-Name as in Table 4. The context may identify a particularrecord store or a portion (e.g., group of records) of a record store tobe accessed. A storage location in the record store is then found orcreated (606). Finally, the received value is stored (608) at the foundor created storage location. Decomposition continues in a loop (602-610)until (610) the end of the message is reached.

A decompose method 700 of FIG. 7 in another implementation of process114 begins with parsing (702) data received from client 140 in amessage. The structure and content of the message are analyzed in anyconventional manner to determine whether the message is an HTTP INPUTmessage (e.g., a link to be followed) or an HTTP POST message (e.g. userspecified entry/edit data).

For an INPUT message, parsing continues to identify an attribute-valuetuple having the name “name” and a key as a value. The key is analyzedaccording to an expected structure. The structure of the key maycorrespond to a concatenated series of: (a) the intended list-name; (b)an underscore; (c) the intended sequence-number; (d) an underscore; and(e) the intended value-name. The key is then used in a query of recordstore 104. If the key does not locate a record, then a record may becreated (706). Otherwise, the value associated with the INPUT message(i.e., the value entered by the user) is stored (708) at the recordidentified by the key and specifically in the named-value field (e.g.,corresponding to Named-Value of Table 4).

For a POST message, parsing continues to identify one or moreparameter-and-value tuples. For each such tuple (710), theparameter-name is analyzed to determine a key as discussed above withreference to 704. Storage for a new or replacement value is found orcreated (714) in the manner described with reference to 706. The value,associated with the parameter-name, the key, and ultimately the fullyqualified value name, is stored (716) at the storage location determinedin 714 and specifically in the named-value field. Eachparameter-and-value tuple is processed in turn until all have beenprocessed (718).

After storage of the named-value(s) (708 or 718), the decompose processis complete (720).

The foregoing description discusses preferred embodiments of the presentinvention which may be changed or modified without departing from thescope of the present invention as defined in the claims. While for thesake of clarity of description, several specific embodiments of theinvention have been described, the scope of the invention is intended tobe measured by the claims as set forth below.

1. A method performed by an information system application service forgenerating presentation data, comprising steps of: parsing a template toidentify a set of elements that form a unique key, the set of elementscomprising a group name, a subgroup name, and a sequence element;retrieving a value from a data store using the unique key; andgenerating presentation data from the template by replacing the set ofelements with the retrieved value.
 2. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising steps of: providing the presentation data to a client withina messaging framework message; and generating display elements at theclient based at least in part on the provided presentation data.
 3. Themethod of claim 1 wherein parsing step comprises parsing the templatewith the set of elements where the set of elements is encapsulated in anextended markup language tag such that the template is compatible withan XML markup language standard.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein: theinformation system application service comprises a web server forgenerating web page content; and the generating step comprisesgenerating web page content from the presentation data.
 5. The method ofclaim 2 wherein: the information system application service comprises aweb server for generating web page content; the providing step comprisesproviding the presentation data to a web client within the messagingframework message; and the generating display elements step comprisesgenerating a web page at the web client based at least in part on theprovided presentation data.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein theproviding step comprises providing the presentation data to a web clientwithin the messaging framework message compatible with a HyperTextTransport Protocol (HTTP) standard.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein thegroup name is a list name, the subgroup name is an item name, and thesequence element is a sequence number.
 8. The method of claim 1 whereinthe set of elements comprises a tuple.
 9. A computer readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions which, when executed by the computer,implement the method of claim
 1. 10. A method performed by aninformation system application service for updating a data store,comprising steps of: parsing a messaging framework message received froma client to identify a set of elements that form a unique key andassociated update value, the set of elements comprising a group name, asubgroup name, and a sequence element; and updating a value in the datastore with the identified value using the unique key to uniquely selecta particular value from the data store for updating.
 11. The method ofclaim 10 wherein the messaging framework message comprises aconcatenation of the group name, the subgroup name, and the sequenceelement that together form at least in part the unique key.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the messaging framework message comprises aparameter name and a parameter value, the parameter name comprising theunique key and the parameter value comprising the update value.
 13. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the updating step comprises updating thevalue in the data store with database access techniques where the datastore comprises a database having a plurality of rows of data, each rowhaving separate columns for the group name, the subgroup name, thesequence element, and a particular value uniquely associated therewith.14. The method of claim 10 wherein the updating step comprises updatingthe value in the data store with text file access techniques where thedata store comprises a text file having a plurality of rows of data,each row having separated elements for the group name, the subgroupname, the sequence element, and a particular value uniquely associatedtherewith.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein the group name is a listname, the subgroup name is an item name, and the sequence element is asequence number.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein the set of elementscomprises a tuple.
 17. A computer readable medium tangibly embodyinginstructions which, when executed by the computer, implement the methodof claim
 10. 18. An information system having an application serviceprovider (ASP), comprising: a data store; and an application serviceconfigured to: (i) parse a template to identify a set of elements thatform a unique key, the set of elements comprising a group name, asubgroup name, and a sequence element, (ii) retrieve a value from thedata store using the unique key, and (iii) generate presentation datafrom the template by replacing the set of elements with the retrievedvalue.
 19. The information system of claim 18 further comprising aclient operatively coupled to the ASP through a network, the clientbeing configured to (i) receive the presentation data from the ASPwithin a messaging framework message, and (ii) generate display elementsat the client based at least in part on the received presentation data.20. The information system of claim 18 wherein the application serviceis configured to parse the template with the set of elements where theset of elements is encapsulated in an extended markup language tag suchthat the template is compatible with an XML markup language standard.21. The information system of claim 18 further comprising a web serverfor generating web page content and wherein the application service isconfigured to generate web page content from the presentation data. 22.The information system of claim 19 wherein the client comprises a webclient operatively configured to generate a web page at the web clientbased at least in part on the received presentation data.
 23. Theinformation system of claim 19 wherein the client is configured toreceive the presentation data from the ASP within a messaging frameworkmessage compatible with a HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) standard.24. The information system of claim 18 wherein the group name is a listname, the subgroup name is an item name, and the sequence element is asequence number.
 25. The information system of claim 18 wherein the setof elements comprises a tuple.
 26. An information system having anapplication service provider (ASP), comprising: a data store; and anapplication service configured to: (i) parse a messaging frameworkmessage received from a client to identify a set of elements that form aunique key and associated update value, the set of elements comprising agroup name, a subgroup name, and a sequence element, and (ii) update avalue in the data store with the identified value using the unique keyto uniquely select a particular value from the data store for updating.27. The information system of claim 26 wherein the messaging frameworkmessage comprises a concatenation of the group name, the subgroup name,and the sequence element that together form at least in part the uniquekey.
 28. The information system claim 26 wherein the messaging frameworkmessage comprises a parameter name and a parameter value, the parametername comprising the unique key and the parameter value comprising theupdate value.
 29. The information system of claim 26 wherein the datastore comprises a database having a plurality of rows of data, each rowhaving separate columns for the group name, the subgroup name, thesequence element, and a particular value uniquely associated therewith.30. The information system of claim 26 wherein the data store comprisesa text file having a plurality of rows of data, each row havingseparated elements for the group name, the subgroup name, the sequenceelement, and a particular value uniquely associated therewith.
 31. Theinformation system of claim 26 wherein the group name is a list name,the subgroup name is an item name, and the sequence element is asequence number.
 32. The information system of claim 26 wherein the setof elements comprises a tuple.